Ladder



(No Model.)

G. P. 8v M. E. THOR?.

LADDER.

Patented Apr. 29

I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE P. THORP AND `MILTON E. THORP, OF PAOLA, KANSAS.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'kNo. 297,875, dated April 29, 1884.

V Application filed February 14, 1884. (No model.)

I To @LZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE P. THORP and MILTON E. THORP, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Paola, in the county of Miami and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and we do hereby declare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe inven` tion, such as Will'enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates tok portable ladders; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter set forth and described. l

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is aperspective view, showing our improvement arranged for use in the capacity of an ordinary ladder. Fig. 2 is a central section, showing the improvement arranged as astep or platform ladder; and Figs. 3, 4c, 5, and 6 are detail views.

A B are two ladder-sections, having pivotally connected at their upper ends a smaller section, C. The lower portion of the standards -b of the section B are spread or diverge from each other, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. It is intended in practice to correspondingly spread the ends of the standards b ofthe section A.

A central round, a, extends across the section C, and pierces at each side of said section'metallic brackets b, securedV to the sides of said section C, andhaving a horizontal slot, c. The rounds b3 at either side of the round a serve as pivots for the upper portions of the sections A B by reason of said sections turning loosely on said rounds. The side standards, b', of the sections A B have their upper ends, b2, cut away, as shown in Fig. 2, so'v that when said sections are turned on their pivotal rounds b3 on a line with the central section, O, the ends.

of said standards will t between the brackets b andthe side bars, d, of the central section, the cut-away ends b2 admitting of said ends iitting snugly over `the round a, which passes through the brackets. A catch, e, consisting of anenlarged portion, e', and tapering shank e2, is pivotally secured on the upper side of each of the side bars, d, ofthe section C, the

enlarged portion c having a curved slot, e3, in

which is located a pin, c", projecting from the upper side of said bar d, said pin serving to side bars, d, as before described, the catch e can be turned on its'pivot, so that an end of the enlarged portion will pass into and engage the horizontal slot c of the bracket b, thus locking the ends b2`in position. A series of lips or projections, e5, 'on the enlarged portion e' facilitate the manipulation of the acatch upon its pivot, the said lips e5 affording a projection against which the thumb or finger of the operator can press. tionsA B carries Vat its outer side, near the upper portion of the same, abracket, D, bent to form a socket, g, into which the ends df of the side bars, d, rest when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, a pivoted catch, h, on the front face of the standards b being pivoted to move and cause one of its ends to engage a vertical slot, i, formed in a projecting portion, j, of the bracket D, and thus lock the said ends d in the socket.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a device and arrangement for attaching step-sections E to the rounds of the ladder, to convert the same into a step-ladder. The arrangement consists of a metallic plate, F, provided with vertical ribs k, which embrace the edges of the standards b of the ladder-sections A B. The plates F are provided with ribs Z m m. On one side the ribs m m are parallel with the rib Z, so as to form an inclined socket for the reception of theend of the step-section, the lower end of the socket being open for the insertion of the said step-section, while` the ribs m m are separated from each other, so as to permit the round upon which the said step-section is designed to rest to enter and lie in a recess therefor formed on the under side of the said stepsection. This arrangement permits the ready attachmentof the step-sections to the rounds, and by raising said step-sections and sliding the plates F upward upon the standards the step sections are removed from engagement with their rounds and may be readily withdrawn.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a ladder embodying ourimpr'ovements is capable of ready adjustment either as an ordi*k Each standard b of the sec- IOO Y nary ladder or as a platform-ladder, as shown l in Fig. 2. In the latter arrangement it will be desirable to employ a small platform, G, having its sides a beveled, so that the standards b' can bear closely against the same. Furthermore, it will be obvious that the form and arrangement of the brackets b and D and the plate F are such that they can be cheaply produced by casting or otherwise.

A section, I l, has a vertical slot, p, through which project-s a threaded bolt, q, secured to the lower outer portion of one of the standards, b', of each of the sections A B, the said section being capable of vertical adjustment on said standards b by a thuinbscrew, s, so as to lengthen, if necessary, said standards b', to accommodate the ladder to uneven ground. These sections are preferably arranged one on one side of the section A and one on the other side of the section B. By this arrangement an adjustment can be secured at either side of the structure without the necessity of employing more than two ofthe supplemental sections H.

XVe claim- 1. The combination, in a ladder, of two ladder-sections pivotally secured to a third section, brackets secured to said third section and adapted to receive the ends of the rst-mentioned sections when turned, as herein described, aud a catch for engaging said bracket to lock said ends in position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in aladder, of three ladder-sections, pivoted and operating as herein described, of slotted brackets and pivoted catches secured to the central section, said catches being adapted to engage the notches of the brackets, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, in a ladder, of two ladder-sections pivotally secured to a third section, and having their ends cut away, as herein set forth, brackets secured to the third section and pierced by a round, and devices for engaging the brackets, substantially as described.

4. rllhe combination, in aladder, oftwo laddcr-sections pivotally secured to a third section, and a detachable ,platform having beveled sides adapted to rest on the central section,

substantially in the manner herein described. 5o

5. The combination, in a ladder, of three ladder-sections, pivoted and operating as herein described, of brackets and catches secured to one of said sections, said catches being provided with a series of projections and adapted to engage the brackets, substantially as speciiied.

6. The combination, in a ladder, of plates bearing against the sides of the said ladder, and

provided with sockets adapted to receive step- 6o sections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, in a ladder, of plates provided with ribs engaging the sides of said ladder, and provided with sockets adapted to receive the ends of step-sections, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, in a ladder, of plates bearing against the sides of the said ladder, and

each provided with a socket having one end 7o open for the purpose specified, and an opening in the lower central portion of the same to receive the round upon which it rests, and a step for insertion therein, grooved on its under face, substantially as set forth. 7 5

In testimony whereof we ax our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

,GEORGE l?. THORP. MILTON E. THORP. XVitnesses:

CYRUs SHAW, XVM. CROWELL. 

